The U.S. military has calculated it could take more than 75,000 ground troops to secure Syria's chemical warfare facilities if they were at risk of being looted or left unguarded, CNN has learned.

The conclusion comes from a military analysis of options for Syria that the Department of Defense is preparing for president should he request it, according to a senior U.S. official.

Securing Syria's chemical sites would be "extraordinarily difficult" given the scope of the problem, a Department of Defense official told CNN.Both officials would only speak on the condition their names not be used because they were talking about military planning.

The U.S. military believes there are 50 chemical weapon and production sites spread across the country with additional storage sites and research centers as well. The cities of Hama, Homs and al Safira, and the port city of Latakia are all believed to house production facilities.

While the number is large - nearly as many as are currently serving in Afghanistan - any actual deployment should it ever come to that would undoubtedly be significantly smaller than the planning suggested. U.S. officials continue to insist the American position is to push for a diplomatic solution.

"In terms of a military action to secure a part of the country, that is not currently a policy we are pursuing," said White House spokesman Jay Carney on Wednesday.

The U.S. intelligence community currently believes Syria's weapons sites are secured by the regime, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress last week. But the senior U.S. official who spoke to CNN said the "nightmare scenario" is what would happen if that situation changes and the regime suddenly fall apart, or the fighting gets to the point that the international community believes military intervention is necessary to secure the chemical weapons.

In that type of conflict scenario - in which American or other countries' troops would be entering a hostile environment - air power would also have to be used to destroy Syria's air defenses, which are considered to be capable, the official said. That portion of any campaign could take weeks.

A defense official told CNN's Chris Lawrence last week that while the U.S. "continues to monitor the overall situation in Syria," there are "ongoing discussions specific to the location of, and security around, the various components of their chemical weapons program."

"Syria probably has one of largest programs in the world," said Leonard Specter with the Monterey Institute of International Studies. "It has multiple types of chemical agents." Specter said the stocks include World War I-era gases like chlorine and phosgene as well as more modern nerve gases.

The United States is paying particular attention to the possibility of the weapons falling into the hands of extremists, in the event the government loses control of certain areas or splinters among itself, the defense official said.

"There would be kind of a vacuum that would lend itself to extremists operating in Syria which is particularly troublesome in light of the large network of chemical warfare, (chemcial biological weapons), weapon-storage facilities and other related facilities that there are in Syria," Clapper said.

The senior U.S. official said American military commanders are continuing to strongly advocate for a political and diplomatic option in Syria rather than a military one. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Clapper have already voiced concerns publicly about arming opposition groups who are not well known to the United States.

But the official also notes the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad itself still has military cards to play. So far the regime has not used its chemical or biological capability or any military aviation units against protestors. If Syrian attack helicopters were called in, he said, "that would be very significant."

"They haven't demonstrated any interest or any intent to use those," Demspey said in an interview that aired this weekend on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS."

soundoff(259 Responses)

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You are already "liberated" Iraq and Libya. There's still people cut and blow each other. As a result of destruction of government settled the armies of weapons in the hands of al-Qaeda. In "liberated" Afghanistan has increased the production of two drugs. In Kosovo, the trade in human organs. This is the result of planting democracy on bayonets. Imagine if China and Russia would be showered with U.S. bombs to defend the oppressed when what the Indians. Do not skip step of development of society, all the time. The time will come, and people in the East itself peacefully change their system.
Other countries also have to have nuclear weapons to defend against intrusive care of the NATO countries. Killing the other world can not build.

It's simple, stop arming the rebels in order for the chemicals not to fall in the hands of looters. The whole problem is because we (NATO) armed rebels or FSA, they are same unit. Let's stay out of Syrian government hair. US officials did state that Al Qaeda is behind the bombings in Syria. It is a known terrorists organization, not to mention that they killed 3000 Americans in one day and scores of our brother and sisters since. As they are involved the law is simple and as clear as crystal. No negotiations, no talking, no concessions. It's not an opinion, not an idea, its simply the law.
Which also states that those who are directly providing aid and/or support are also considered enemy's of the state. Those chemicals should not fall in Al-Qaeda's hands.

It's that crazy middle east oil thing again that my mule status
collapsing a democracy to protect a child m urdering dictator somehow
added to for no reason this time around!!

In 73 and 78 it was a little more than one of today's political bullet
point like how to position a TEWOW attack on top of our North Korean
dictatorship -that is impossible to prevent but virtually non existent-
that my child m urdering poet is turning into a rock solid dictatorship
-with more power than all dictators on the face of the earth put
together – so no two people can lawfully talk about it so we can focus
in on that crazy middle east oil thing and how to position and align
that with social justice in the form of pain at the pump for everyone to
protect one man's character!!

It's a little unfair Jimmy that your geopolitical was working against
the raw realities of these geo-political and economic factors while
holding all our value here at home while our liberal itch jettisons
them all and collapses a way of life and democracy here at home only to
directly cause these geo-political factors to go against us as well
exclusively to save this war criminal and perverts reputation...

Maybe my contribution to this won't be so bad and maybe some other
factors will be inserted so it doesn't exclusively look like it is the
direct fault of my media and political t rash dancing on top of other
innocent life along Obama's negative reality..

I am a social justice supporting Senator in the face of those big bad Republicans!!!

Actually it won't be nearly as bad as 73 or 78 but given the fact we are the direct cause, compounded by the fact it was all a plain of alternate reality, speaks volumes about us...

Hu!!!

Agent #2 has been monitoring all of this:)

Actually it is baked into all of us HU because some of the orders came directly from the man in charge and worked flawlessly because during periods of enormous stress there are little tears in the reality in front of you that are impossible to articulate but show extraordinary design behind every decision we all make and that is why I do not care how my thread "appears" when it leaves life's stage...because a got a chance for one turn at his record and in a matter of minutes I put the most powerful man in the world inside of my imagination making one of history's most shameful pucks one of the stupidest as well..and what does he do but decide to go full stream against the most awesome power that put him in his place so his insecure and pathetic as can come out looking start on top of as as many of his citizens as necessary...like he is some kind of weirdo...not wise HU even for a gambling man...

Look at this self serving crap protecting their sorry as reputations and the worst dictator on the face of the Earth...please take this one down cause its been 5/5 in the last hour

Because even on the surface it was this ordinary organism that caused my ucking boat to go under and when this liberal itch entered office he had a stupid profound look of all the challenges ahead like he was God's gift to the world and decided to make no one mad and at a point in our nation's history when it was easiest to dismantle it because he became afraid of it with the political topic easiest to exploit but that has the greatest impact on every single American -war powers on US soil – because everyone assumes they don't exist but anyone can have their lives gutted by it for absolutely no reason.

So this stupid itch takes a full blown, but isolated, war crime in motion and started touching everyone- with no legal standard from the bottom -by the accumulated horror of our global pile of hit -with DOD from the top that can completely destroy the lives of anyone that refuses to add to the destruction of someone refusing to add to theirs-and made it common law to completely destroy any innocent US citizen that possesses any potential of threat to any interest in the most brutal ways- because it has to be organic -so he could stay ahead of ordinary organism with his meaningless victories but to the point where he started to collapse the human rights of an exponentially growing swath of society securing the statements I was being forced to make, so he simply set up an extraordinary organism and aligned every special interest, i mean national interest, along with the sorry as reputations of every compromised socially more right than wrong DOD Senator and profiteering POW dush bag uck, and accumulated as much risk along the plains of no reality and negative reality as possible while touching as much of society as possible setting up circular piano keys across as much of the social spectrum "ensuring", exclusively for his criminal defense, the new sets of circular piano keys secured the circular piano keys that secured every statement I was forced to make while being baked from the inside out.

And for really no reason what so ever except giving my Supreme ruler the ability to stay ahead of ordinary organism so this stupid uck could hold the fort -going in reverse- on the simplest arguments known to man and keep same ordinary organism from acting on the truth -since it was his shameful and worthless as on the line this time -as he compacted and compromised the sorry as reputations of every Senator and media profiteering POW dush bag and aligned the most brutal war crimes and extrajudicial crimes known to man- using no cause pretexts from the bottom interlaced with DOD intent from the top – with their sorry as reputations and every special interest creating an alternate reality where these proud profiteering POW ucks would allow their own status to be leveraged to create as much risk as humanly possible along the plains of negative and no reality.

All the while Supreme Ruler paralleled their sorry as contribution to my nation-by creating out of thin air the justification to not only keep the collapse of human rights across a larger swath of innocent US citizens going but actually accelerate it – while he used the increased risk injected into the plains of no reality and negative reality under no cause pretexts to actually reformat the Senate and my media trash multiple times so the DOD social model of calling him or defending him as not being weak could hold for my political trash and so my media trash would not immediately feel like used rubbers letting their proud lose of human rights as his personal mules -that gave pretext for the collapse of a democracy and way of life here at home-not be in vein.

Until the collapse of a democracy and way of life – justified by compacting all of this exploding activity into this alternate reality and aligning it with as many sorry as reputations as possible- simply failed and fell back into reality and started to bubble up everywhere, so now-because of my political and media trash-every United States citizen -from across the entire social spectrum from far left to far right, and at every level of power from that untouched by his war time investigations that need to destroy anyone that has any potential of threat to any interest by touching them with all the pointless accumulation of our global pile of hit to originally stay ahead of ordinary organism and dangerous mic to those deepest in them standing up for their most basic rights-and the ten levels in between along this imaginary plain of absolute perversion- will pay the price for these sorry as pieces of political and media trash.

Because everything pivots form the core and and not coming to terms with the damage they are causing this nation -by taking away what's most important for no reason under false pretext of making the lives of everyone not touched by these war time investigations on the surface a little more stable is one thing, because in reality the destruction of the core for absolutely no reason to become the cause and catalyst for a lower quality of life for everyone untouched by the madness within the core was predictable -step by step by step-with my pieces of political and media trash within the most shameful and cowardly and insecure and anxiety filled sulfur wreaking perversion on the face of the uckin Earth because we are all getting the show we deserve and it all pivots from the courage we show in the core and we have less than none...

Net 30 HU cause I only scored high in making special ladies feel priceless and there are many smarter than me:)

I really don't see the difference between helicopters and tanks. Like i said before, this is a middle eatern problem. For ONCE they should all unite and overthrow that regime. Forget about Russia nad China. They have the weapons and man power to do so.

If the Syrian government was going to fall, they can if they wish make a decision to actively distribute the chemical weapons to the appropriate groups, or passively let them be taken away. Much of the West has obviously taken sides against them. If they decided to actively or passively distribute it woud not matter how many troops were sent in.

On the other hand having the chemical weapons gives Syria leverage for an accomodation if they can't retain ouright power. The risks of chaos have serious ramifications for many parties.

There are still more hands to be played, and this may have a ways to go yet.

I believe that this story is actually CNN trying to get a story, and the military purposely leaking this info to see what the public reaction would be. This is just the government testing the water. They do this all the time don't worry about it. In fact voice your opinion that's what they want don't send our troops.

The chemical and biological weapons stores in Syria are widely known to exist and the Syrian government is not trying to hide that fact. They fully acknowledge their biological and chemical weapons capability. So if we, or someone else, does not go into secure them.. I will blame people like you when they use them on the innocent. These weapons cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of a REBEL force. As just as that force may be for defending their own freedoms.. we cannot trust that they will not use the chemical or biological weapons for other agendas once they take control.

I agree with you; we should stay out of this as best we can. But the thing is they definitely have these chemical weapons. And if they fell into the wrong hands it could mean trouble. I dont see why we cant patrol using armed drones though. No troops on the ground!

People don't understand that this is our problem. Maybe not our problem today but our problem in the future if these weapons fall into the wrong hands. How long do you think it would actually take for any number of these chemicals to make it to American soil in the hands of a mad man that hates us. Some say China and Russia need to step in but do they realize that its not them who will be attacked, its the western powers that are hated by so many Muslim extremists who will.

SO many weapons everywhere, Syria, Pakistan etc.
It's out of control !! PULL ALL OUR MEN HOME TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS, SECURE OUR OWN COUNTRY..
THESE WEAPONS WILL FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS, THAT CAN'T BE AVOIDED, IM SURE OF THAT !!
BUT WE CANT AFFORD TO POLICE THE WORLD.. LET CHINA AND RUSSIA DO THE JOB. WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST NOW, ISREAL CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES, AND IF NEEDED LETS DECLAR WAR AND GET IT OVER WITH QUICKLY, BOMB THEM BACK TO THE STONE AGE !!
AS FOR IRAN, THEY WILL GET THEIR BOMBS , WE CANT STOP THAT..
PAKISTAN IS A GREATER THREAT, SOME OF THEIR WEAPONS WILL END UP IN THE WRONG HANDS SOMEDAY !
RON PAUL 2012 !!!!
LETS LEAVE THESE CAVE MEN ALONE, THEY WILL DESTROY ONE ANOTHER OVER TIME !
AND IF THEY SCREW WITH US, NUKE EM !!
THIS COUNTRY CANT AFFORD TO POLICE THE WORLD ANY LONGER !! ITS THAT SIMPLE !
AND IT WONT BE MY CHILDREN THAT ARE SENT OVER THERE TO DIE FOR PEOPLE THAT HATE OUR GUTTS !!
AND NO ONE IN WASHINGTON WILL SEND THEIR CHILDREN EITHER..

This is why our country is doomed !!
They hate us because we are there !
It's time to leave them alone oe we will destroy ourselves trying to police these wack jobs !!!!!
sorry but the damage has been done and we cant fix it now !!
RON PAUL 2012 !!!!

Hey smart guy.. DEFEND our own border? Our soldiers would only be good on American soil for one thing.. helping to police up the bodies of the millions of innocent Americans that would die in a chemical or biological attack on a place like New York City.. stop trying to make everyone think that being a coward is the best way to defend this country

The button to push to post the message in here is labeled "Publicar"..........Spanish word for "to publish".
CNN, did I wake up in a foreign country this morning or are you just pandering to those in this country who can't "do" English.

That is bad news. If Assad looses and the rebels get to it – i.e. Al Caeda gets to it, it will become everybody's problem.
Let Assad control it – it worked so far, before all that "Arab Spring" failure.

75,000 troops to secure chemical facilities in a desert thousands of miles away?! I didn't take Paul too seriously when he talked about fearing the draft last night if we keep up this foreign policy, but maybe he's right. Just the suggestion of this (75,000 troops to Syria) makes me mad.

I guess you and your selfishness prevent you from being able to see the bigger picture; I'm a solider in the U.S. Army and I am more than willing to risk my life invading Syria to protect those innocent people who are being slaughtered by the government that's supposed to protect them. Stop being so selfish and realize that something needs to be done. Just because you can sit in your comfy room at home doesn't mean that you have the right to determine if others should be left to suffer.

February 23, 2012 at 10:36 am |

FugginMorons

Sucks for you Andrew.

February 23, 2012 at 10:40 am |

RICH

WELL ANDREW GO FOR IT !!!
LET ME KNOW HOW THAT WORKS OUT FOR YOU !!

February 23, 2012 at 10:42 am |

Cedric the Toolshed

Good for you Rich. Andrew, be a good Marine and go murder some people.

February 23, 2012 at 11:08 am |

11B2V1P

don't be surprised, this talk is also coming down from regiment on a security taskforce.

Something to consider – This has NOTHING to do with victims in Syria, the long-term stability of the Middle East, human rights, or chemical weapons. This is all about Obama and Mitt Romney's poling numbers. I'm actually an Obama supporter but let's face it, the guy's a politician. If you want to get elected, drop some bombs on some Middle Eastern country some where. Works like a charm.

Absolutely correct. Also amazing how oil prices inevitably increase dramatically 6 months or so ahead of a presidential election and then suddenly take a rapid plunge just around election time thanks to the incumbent's "intervention."

I agree that more education is needed because obviously that's not what I said.
I said or at least implied that Obama is apparently feeling tempted to "intervene"
because doing so would increase chances of being re-elected; and Mitt Romney
is also doing some "sabre-rattling" because it also helps *his* chances. There's
PLENTY of other places where violence is occurring; but Syria is "hot" in the news
right now. I'd like to suggest re-reading what I actually said.

February 23, 2012 at 4:42 pm |

Ralph in Orange Park, FL

Unfortunately, this is a situation where bombing is simply not an option.

It will most certainly be our problem if Al-Qaeda decides step in and help the opposition. This chemical weapon stock pile could easily fall into the hands of terrorists hell bent on destroying the West. That is a scary thought. Why do you think they are so eager to help. Trust me, it's not because they care. This is a country in turmoil, they are looking for help wherever they can find it.

But if we invade Syria – and sending 75,000 troops IS an invasion – then 2 terrorists will be created for every 1 we kill. This is an al Qaeda propaganist's *dream.* We're damned if we do and damned if we don't; i.m.o. we might's well be damned for something that's clearly not caused by our own actions.

February 23, 2012 at 10:09 am |

Tim Rigney

P.S. – People like to conveniently forget that a large portion of the Republican Guard in Iraq turned and went the other way. And trap had been laid at a river which the advancing U.S. forces failed to plan for – a VERY large missile was set to strike them, which would have literally wiped out thousands of troops in one fell swoop – but – thank Goodness – it had been abandoned by troops who wanted Saddam to fall.
Those things won't happen in Syria or Iran. These are SERIOUS, HARDENED armies with LOYAL troops that have MODERN equipment and weapons. Iran has the ability to take out an entire U.S. aircraft carrier. If we went to war against either there would be TRULY significant casualties. It's TOO MUCH, i.m.o. We've done enough; it's time for the U.S. to have peace.

if you don't like it.. Don't volunteer for the military. It seems you all have no concern or national security until people are dead at the hands of terrorists. Your no intelligence advisor. You don't know what al Qaeda has planned. So unless you can show me that extremist Muslims are done trying to kill innocent Americans. Shut it.

Now tell me. Who helped Al-Queada to get started in the first place? Who helped these people get weapons in the first place? And now we want to go and meddle in other countries affairs. We are already in a 15,000,000,000,000 dollar deficit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are we doing?!?!?!?!?!

February 23, 2012 at 10:42 am |

Tim Rigney

But no al-Qaeda presence has been detected in Syria.

February 23, 2012 at 4:46 pm |

andrew

no you see our country does see this as our problem. because if we dont secure those facilities and terrorists get these chemicals and use them against americans.. then people who are never satisfied in america will ask why we arent protected... were just stuck.. people wanna be safe but dont want to give up all these freedoms that allow people into this country... its just a forever loop of complaining no matter what

The father produced the son. Assad is the current leader in Syria his father the leader before him . Perhaps CNN could explain to its viewers . under what conditions or circumstances did the senior Assad come to power.

Doubtful we got 75k troops readily available,and now the idiots want to down size our military.Let those people solve their own problems.If we would have stayed out of Iraq andlet hussien deal with Iran,they would have taken care of each other.

Your call name is very insightful, and self descriptive if you think it's as simple as that.

February 23, 2012 at 9:54 am |

FugginMorons

Blow it out your ... jj...

February 23, 2012 at 10:17 am |

ComSenseWiz

No more US boots on the ground in any Arab/Muslim country period beyond commando missions. We can handle command, air and sea but that's it. Put Arab boots in there if necessary as this is an Arab problem. Again, no highly costly troops in any of these rat hole countries.

Yes we really messed up in Iraq when we disbanded 250,000 members of the Iraqi military and left the army weapons depots unguarded or not guarded well enough...within a few days the first IED's showed up...oil wells were blown up, oil pipelines were blown up,..The french underground really messed with the Nazis in Mainland France attack different sites...

if everyone would take the time and read the Word, that is the BIBLE, then you would understand that prophecy has to and will be fulfilled. America as we know it will be no more. America is always jumping on the band wagon and dipping into buisness thats really none of their buisness. The Bible says the Last shall be first, and the first shall be last. America has bullied EVERYONE long enough, now its time to reap what they have sown; un-loyalty, distrust!

The Bible was written by man, not God. In 2500 years someone could stumble across a ragged Harry Potter book and take the stories as being factual and use it to base a religion off of. You say the US has bullied everyone long enough. Do you think al-Assad and what he is doing is not "bullying"?

Americans were not so concerned for civilian deaths when the the US was bombarding Baghdad in 2003 with the celebrated Shock and Awe and invasion which killed 30,000, according to President Bush.

February 23, 2012 at 11:05 am |

FugginMorons

"Americans were not so concerned for civilian deaths when the the US was bombarding "

that's because most Americans are hypocritical, ignorant drooling morons.

February 23, 2012 at 11:34 am |

sashagirl123

DOU44, I will be the first to say Iraq was a grave mistake from start to finish, but for other Americans and other countries to continually use it as a reason to never go to war again and to never put our military on the ground again needs to stop. It is unrealistic. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best. Syria is a serious problem on many levels. From a President willing to slaughter his own people including infants and children to the fact that there are chemical and biological weapon stashes all over the country and terrorist organizations are oh so willing to jump in and help! So the weapons won't fall on our soil. Do you think we shouldn't worry about our interests in the ME and beyond that can be hit?

February 23, 2012 at 11:40 am |

charlie avila

The 3rd worldwide war is about to start. According to the maya's calendar, human kind will desapear from planet earth by the end of this year 2012 and beyone. If the usa intervene in syria, iran and other enemy countries, will attack israel. Usa enemies are located in usa homeland, ready to attack americans. The final global war, the armaggedon, will start under obama's administratio. Obama will open doors to the killing and usa destruction!.....

The Mayan calendar does not predict the end of the world. The calendar ends on Dec 21st. Anyone who follows the cosmos knows that Dec 21st marks the end of the previous solar cycle. The sun is at it's lowest point on the horizon, stays there for 3 days and begins to ascend again on Dec 25th. The Mayans are no longer here to create a new calendar. When my desk calendar ends, I get a new one.

How could the Mayans possibly have known the FIRST thing about what the future would hold and what would happen when? The Mayan calander was an agricultural calendar which happened to have cycles, one ends and another starts at random times. But if you want to give me your life's savings I'd be more than happy to take them.

The Mayan Calandar does not refer to world wide destruction or the death of mankind. It just simply ends. Why? No one is really sure. Maybe their civilization ended before it could be finished? We don't know. Why do you believe going in to Syria will start the end of mankind, but sitting back and witnessing the endless murder of the inncocents is ok? I believe that when we start to become unresponsive to some of the most horrific atrocities in society we have reached the beginning of the end of the human race.

The atrocities committed now are no worse or better than any of the others endured throughout time.

February 23, 2012 at 10:22 am |

sashagirl123

The difference between then and now is the world is watching. Seriously if that explains everything for you then you truly are a moron!

February 23, 2012 at 11:31 am |

FugginMorons

The world watched as America killed tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis. See my point?

February 23, 2012 at 11:35 am |

sashagirl123

Read my post above to DOU44.

February 23, 2012 at 11:42 am |

FugginMorons

fear mongering rubbish

February 23, 2012 at 1:02 pm |

Tim Rigney

I agree; so why isn't every single U.S. citizen joining the army and going off to fight in North Korea and Iran and Syria and Palestine and Nigeria and Egypt and Russia and China and the Congo and Rwanda and Mexico and Somalia and Laos and Pakistan and Venezuela? This isn't worth *one* American life, i.m.o. We've done enough *already.*
You're implying you want SOMEONE ELSE'S son to die for this because it's worth it. I think you should have to make a case that you're willing for YOUR son to die for it.

February 23, 2012 at 4:50 pm |

c

Are we talking the same Mayans who did those nasty pagan rituals where they tied folk to a block of wood, cut out their hearts ans tossed their carcusses down the steps. Mel Gibson didn't make this stuff up.
The Mayans might have invented nice calendars, but they were basically a bunch of pagan nuts praying to maize and underworld gods. The Mayans had killed and sacrificed so many of their own people that it made it easier for the Spaniards to cross the ocean blue to conquer them. Mayans descendants still live in Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico etc; nowadays we call some of the MS 13's and American border crossers settling in countless American cities.
You can't seriously believe that nothing short of the end of the wolrd would be decided to these people
I assume if you believe this stuff; you haven't read the Matthew 24:36 – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. If you're not a Christian; keep reading the calendar.

Your assertions would be hilarious if they weren't dangerously insane. You're trying to make a link between the ancient Mayan culture and Latin street gangs?

Following this ridiculous claim, you then go on to quote a bible passage, which I assume by the quite ambiguous reference to a calendar, you are trying to say is the Mayan Calendar.

Obviously, the savage nature of the Mayans is legendary, but that doesn't excuse your wild conclusions.

February 23, 2012 at 11:29 am |

FugginMorons

get a grip with your bible bs.

February 23, 2012 at 11:36 am |

GOPisGreedOverPeople

The GOP solution: Start a war with Iran (totally unfunded of course). Then send the poor people to fight/die in the war while giving the rich people "no bid contracts" (killing two birds with one stone). Then use Iran's oil to pay for the war. And when the war is over, Iran will sell us cheap oil!!!.......Just like in Iraq!!!!..........Oh wait.......Never mind.

ya same old wolf same old cry... and if they do have it and the wolf is there someones goina get gassed... lets just nuke them and make the area nice and radio active so if there is anything there the people will die before they get to it. Strange that we want people to have freedom but dont trust them with it.

We don't want them to have "freedom"... that's just the bs the government tells dumb Americans to get them to agree to war.

February 23, 2012 at 9:45 am |

Patrick

This is not the same as that, keep in mind in Iraq Saddam said that he didn't have weapons and the UN people in charge of monitoring also said that he didn't have weapons. In syria, everyone knows, admits, and acknowledges the weapons. The number of sites could be off by a huge amount, as well as their location, however the chance that they are there somewhere is actually 100%, partly because we sold them some of the components to build them. There was also no watchdog authority telling them to stop, mostly because Syria was our partner in crime.

February 23, 2012 at 11:47 am |

Sam Crow

Were you in iraq??? did you serve?? Bet not. See, there are thing that our "free press" did not tell you. Like what was buried in the desert. What was shipped out before the invasion. I am not claiming they had or did not have WMD, but there was stuff buried in the desert you have not heard about.

exactly.. But Libfags worry more about their paycheck than safety of their fellow man

February 23, 2012 at 10:08 am |

Dance This Mess Around

Cant find WMD ?
Change the definition.
Instead of mustard gas and rockets,
Now its cherry bombs and pepsi bottles.

February 23, 2012 at 10:54 am |

Dance This Mess Around

exactly.. But GOP pedofiles worry more about their paycheck than safety of their fellow man

February 23, 2012 at 10:54 am |

William Fitzsimmons

So, Sam, you're telling me that there were WMDs buried in the desert? You don't think old baby Bush wouldn't have trotted that out with a thousand mile grin on his face?

All you're doing is repeating rumor, which is a load of crap and is merely hearsay.

February 23, 2012 at 11:12 am |

William Fitzsimmons

"exactly.. But Libfags worry more about their paycheck than safety of their fellow man"

And David, I think you know your comment was incendiary and that's why you posted it. You get your rocks off antagonizing people of a different political persuasion simply because they have a different viewpoint than you.

Aside from your outright bigotry, your comment is totally false. To suggest that a whole group of people, defined by you as 'libfags,' care only about their income is short-sighted, childish, narrow-minded, stupid, and most of all is a shining example of your blatant ignorance.

But, again, I think that's why you come here, to make yourself feel important by posting incendiary crap, that you probably know is false, just to get a rise out of people. It appears quite pathetic.

February 23, 2012 at 11:17 am |

Sam Crow

keep drinking the kool-aid brother. Guess Bush caused the economic collapse too. It couldn't have been Clinton deregulating banks in his last two years and giving loans of over 100K to 12 year old's like it was candy. It couldn't have been his policies that lead to Wall Street to do black market sales and derivatives. so, let see. Gas prices hit $4 2008, the 12 year old's couldn't afford their bills and it all came crumbling down. It exposed the fraud Wall Street was doing and who got the bill, the taxpayer. We will suffer for the next few decades thanks to Clinton, Greenspan, and his crooines.

Sorry for that rant, but what was buried in the desert? Yes, non-WMD items were found buried, just like Saddam. What was shipped out before the invasion. Remember we gave the 48 hours. It took 4-5 weeks to get to Baghdad. there is so much you do not know it is unreal.

Stop drinking the kool-aid brohammie, think for yourself for once. If everyone would, we wouldn't be in the shitzzzz

More partisan shillery... Don't let Fox News and CNN do all your thinking for you.

February 23, 2012 at 10:19 am |

William Fitzsimmons

So Sam, why don't you tell us about these mysterious treasures of Saddam buried in the desert. Why don't you inform us of all these supposedly secret information that only you and others 'who were there' know. Did Saddam have (GASP) conventional weapons buried deep in the sand?

Since you seem to be privy to information that no one else has, why don't you go on record and share your amazing finds. Inform the world of your rare knowledge.

February 23, 2012 at 11:22 am |

Milky Pirate

This is another no-win situation. Unless we intend to occupy Syria (permanently) then there is no point in expending the military capital or American lives. Look what our policies got us in Iraq - nothing. Iraq is more unstable now than before we invaded.

75,000 troops? American?? C'mon, this is 'hokey' – blow them babies & it won't take any troops to secure them OR are they 'Western-Owned'? Dow? Oh, well, then I suppose we need to go in there & 'secure' them, LOL – NOT

I never thought about this scenario, did not know they had such weapons and production plants. On the other hand this sort of sounds like an excuse is being built. If you get some fear going that there are lots of chem or bio weapons in Syria along with the volatile situation and the fact that there are extremists who operate in much of the region it starts to sound like an OH Shi te yeah we better think about doing something moment. I wonder

Well THIS explains a LOT. Why Russia is supporting Assad and the U.S. is pissing around. Unfortunately, policy based on being an idiot never works. Now Al-Queda is HEAVILY vested in Syria and WHEN, not if, Assad falls, the U.S. and other major players are already locked out. MAJOR, MAJOR screwup on the part of State Dept. and the Feds. Had you hit the ground from Day One- we could have locked this up. Now, Al-Queda has ALL the Terror they could possibly want to sow. The CIA/NSA/DOJ F*CKED IT UP AGAIN!!!!

OK smartass, There is a Russian Military base in Syria
with 3 Russian ships, and 2 more Iranian ships have joined them.
You want us not only to attack Syria, but get into a war with both
Russia and Iran ?
You are buttass crazy.

Where is the Arab solution to this Syria fray? Where's that holy Arab Brotherhood and Arab League and whatever else they dream up to justify their primitive stuff! If we don't slam the door on this one way or another soon we'll be broke and splintered. Based on this morning's violent stories from "democratic" Iraq and other places we tried to get straight, it would appear we're on the wrong track here. They have the time to keep jihad this going for centuries and will do just that.

Well – Syria is in a civil war, thats what it is at the end of the day. The hilarious part of this situation is that our enemy "al-Qaeda" supports the population as we also do. It all comes down to oil – do they have oil? not really – so nothing to see here move on. The US isn't putting troops anywhere in Syria – I don't think the "revolution" there has a chance.

This would just be practice for the big one, first Iraq and Afghanistan with practically no capabilities, next we step up to Syria with a working air defense and Airforce, then on to Iran, a formidable opponent. Once China decides to put their 2million man army on the table, we'll have a smaller force, but it will be hardened veterans who have years of experience, so good that killing has become an art to them. It's gonna be an Asian meat grinder.

We're not going to take action in Syria – it doesn't make sense. We can play the role of caring for human lives, thats super great – but the U.S isn't stupid and has bigger issues. Iran, Russia, China – they might see Syria as an opportunity to be a proxy for their goals – but we're not taking the bait.

Israel is helping Assad murder his own people, there is a reason why Israel offered Assad refuge in case he gets deposed. This is why USA does nothing, on Israel orders. Gadhafi's mercenaries were trained by Israel google it. If people only knew

I hope Assad launch everything he has towards that tiny nation full of crooks name Israel,then that will teach us and the Jews to stay out of other countries problem,we are nothing but common thieves hiding under the cover of caring about Libyans and now Syrians.Conveniently enough we utter not a word when Saudi pigs were sending US made tanks to Bahrain to kill doctors inside hospitals.

And clearly you feel you and your opinions are somehow better than everyone else?

February 23, 2012 at 10:43 am |

No more action

We need to stop pushing our nose into everyone elses businees. Let them hash it out. We have needs in our country, yet we will read about $16 billion in aid sent to this stupid country too. I am tired of this. We go and relieve a country of their dictator (I was there when Sadaam was hung) and then turn around and rebuild them to produce more terrorists. We (America) have become a bunch of push over with no back bone to say No I am not getting involved in your qurral solve it yourself.

Exactly. We should heed George Washington's words, as they were very prophetic. 1. Avoid foreign entaglements, 2. Avoid the party system as a means of choosing elected officials. And Eisenhower saw the writing on the wall when he warned us about the military/industrial complex. How many brave young men and women have paid a price for corporate defense contracts and profits since the end of Worl War II?

February 23, 2012 at 8:06 am |

NotOneUSSoldier

We send the brass and old men of Congress to do that job and leave our younger generations of Judeo-Christian men and women here in the US to defend their nation.

How does that sound?

Pretty damned good to me.

When I see we are funding rental cars and gas vouchers for foreign students on visas from Haiti and other poor nations over and above American college students that cannot survive or are starving – how dare the Pentagon make such a traitorous remark in my face knowing my son will be one that is called while they

SIT IN THEIR LEATHER CHAIRS SMOKING CIGARS WATCHING IT ALL GO DO DOWN ON THEIR WALL SCREEN FROM WASHINGTON DC MAKING BETS AS IF IT WERE A CHESS MATCH.

Europe – take note.

This is not a game.

These men ARE playing one.

I am proud to remind them that their days are limited like veryone elses and that they had better start showing the American people that their intentions and motives are to preserve the securityof this nation over and above their pocket books laden with tax gold from our paychecks and retirement funds.

It's amazing how 95% of everyone that posted her is completely ill informed.

The Military tries to plan for every contingent they can possibly think of. Everything from: Syria decides to stop shelling and everyone sings Comb by yah (definately misspelled) to an Alien invasion from Mars. They plan for EVERYTHING and 99.99% of all those plans are never enacted.

This is simply another proposed plan, SHOULD it be necessary. Key word "Should." Right now there's no need but they can't be caught with their pants down if it comes to this.

Should it come to this? I don't think Syrian people would give a damn what America wants afterwards especially when America didn't help them at the time they needed help most. So don't be stupid or naive to think you will have it that easy when not deserved.

i didnt see any americna troops on the ground for 'securing" gadhafi's 'chemical weapons" stop trying to find excuses not to help syrian people, i wish you said same "we can't afford it" when it came to iran bombing israel and filthy jew maggots.

If Syria came to US to "secure" our chemical sites, we'd kill them in an instant. But US can pretty much control the world...but not for long. The world is tired of US butting in. It won't be long until there's a war on US land. There probably won't be any survivors with a nuclear war.

I rather see the US acting world police as a democracy, with values, together with the other NATO countries in Europe (and the democracies of the rest of the world; Japan, Australia, South Korea, Brazil etc).

Than the quasi-democracy Russia, or the dictatorship China, or any fundamentalist country in the middle east.

I for one (as a European, Swedish) does not look blithely on Putins and Chinas continues empowerment of their military capacity.
Reference:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17095664

However, it would be better if Turkey and the EU-countries (Germany, GB, France, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Austria, the Scandinavian countries) were to engage them self in the conflict rather than the US. Perhaps Russia can prove them self worthy by contributing.

To stop the bloodshed.

The US needs to get its economy in order. And also, the problem with the fundamentalist country of Iran, looms around the corner.

February 23, 2012 at 7:46 am |

jj

We will see what Obama really stands for and if all his babbling before that we shouldn't be over there. I imagine he will send toops and again flip flop on his promises when he ran for president. I beleive he said he would get everyone in a room and discuss it.

Now is the time to notify Japan, Germany and S Korea that they are finally going to be called upon to start doing more than building stuff and putting it on ships to sell.
They should be the ones to "fix" this problem, not good ole Uncle Stupid, who's constantly running around playing world policeman while it's domestic issues are ignored.

yes syria has w m d , the iran nuke threat is not being confronted. if assad was going to fall would he use chem weapons ? , well it was reported just over a week ago on a day when over 430 syrian people were killed , that chemical weapons were used. reuters and israei along with other over seas media outlets reported this. check it out.
so this report was supported later by a syrian military defector, yesterday the highest ranking military officer also defect with the same claim that russian advisors and syrian troops have shells in position that are chem weapons , the iranian war ships in sryian port have brought troops ansd supplies including weapons to assad.
i believe all of this is to devert the eyes of the world away from the iranian jihad nuke sites.
the usa cannot arm the syrian freedom fighters because assad will point at israel as acting militarly and a regional wwar will brake out . assad would be happy with that result.
no if there is any answer to assad in syria it either must come from putin or the arab nations .
obama has refused to take any action against iran jihad nuke sites and this is going to cost the world big time if nothing is done.

I completely disagree. In fact, I think Obama's refusal to go to war is one of the better things he's done, so far. And, note, this is NOT coming from an Obama supporter.

The president does not have power to declare a war. The congress must do this.

I know the idea of WMD's is scary, but is war really the answer, here? The soviets had an incredible number of nukes, and we managed to overcome that situation WITHOUT war.

Have you considered the economic implications of what you're implying? America simply doesn't have the money to go to war right now. We're heavily in debt, and starting another $5 trillion dollar excursion in Syria isn't the answer.

I really do feel terrible about all of the bad things that are happening there. But America needs to wake up. We simply don't have the resources to be world police any longer. We can keep going into these wars, but eventually we'll collapse from the inside out because our dollar fails, and then we're literally UNABLE TO AFFORD a decent national defense.

I totally agree with you Grayky.... I too do not like Obama, but believe we should let the Arab nations deal with their own. We have enough problems with Obama on our homefront NOT SUPPORTING the existing troops. My family has been military since the civil war. My husband retired with honors for 20 years of service. Because OBAMANATION won't pass a freaking budget, my husband has NO VA BENEFITS until then. He's been out a year as of next week. So Obama needs to focus here and support the military. Not sending them on suicidal missions for greed. If I had my way, I'd send them Obama with a bow and say " ENJOY!!"

February 23, 2012 at 9:21 am |

the rock

Usually I go off about killing this and that but tonight I want to express my disgust with this oppressive regime and what it is doing to its people.

More than you do azzhole.
Russian military base on Syria's coast fully armed and ready,
now being reinforced by Iranian warships,
and all you can do is run around on CNN posting bad things about Obama.
What do you want him to do ?
Send American troops to die?
Start a no-fly zone so the russians can shoot down American Jets ?

You are a stupid keyboard warrior who thinks he has all the answers.
Go back to your play station, and pull your finger out of your nose,
A Z Z H O L E !!!!!!!

February 23, 2012 at 11:15 am |

Kill The Wabbit

FugginMoron

Good name for you.
Perfect fit.

February 23, 2012 at 11:16 am |

FugginMorons

Dance,

"More than you do azzhole."

-Oh yeah based on what?

"and all you can do is run around on CNN posting bad things about Obama."

-I did? Where did i do that, feel free to quote me and when you are unable to, please apologize.

"What do you want him to do ?"

-Who?

"Send American troops to die?"

-Where did I say that? I see nothing good coming out of invading yet another country. I am anti-war but that must be lost on you somehow.

"You are a stupid keyboard warrior who thinks he has all the answers."

-Wow, you are a tad defensive no? A "stupid keyboard warrior who has all the answers" what does that make you exactly?

"Go back to your play station, and pull your finger out of your nose,
A Z Z H O L E !!!!!!!"

-Clearly you have no ability to have a rational conversation with anyone. You are sarcastic, defensive, immature little pus from what I can tell. Your reading comprehension is pis poor. Well you are lucky we aren't having this discussion in person because I'd leave you in puddle of your own urine, cowering, with two black eyes.

February 23, 2012 at 11:31 am |

the rock

I say kill all syrian soldiers. At least tjheir leader, mr asswad. He is a real piece of work. Why don't we send the seals in there to do a number?

Because it will come back to haunt us? Because we simply can't afford another war? I'm completely disgusted by what's happening there, as well, but we can't police the world forever. Wars cost a ridiculous amount of money, and if we're constantly in wars, then eventually the dollar WILL collapse. If the dollar collapses we lose our ability to fund our own defense budget, among a gigantic list of other things.

Didnt israel say it was prepared to offer asylum to syrians? Could we facilitate their escape with a few puffs of smoke strategically placed to allow them to flee?
My point is this... We don't have to want war to have war declared on us. We should actually be preparing for that eventuality and trying to get the innocent people out of countries that we will land up fighting a total war with and then declare war and finish this once and for all.
Simple undeniable facts....
1. Burn 6 korans and riots break out in protest of it. Even though its the proper way to dispose of religious material.
2. We differentiate radical and non radical... Muslims do not. You either are or are and with god or your executed. Death is the result of not being with god. (my ameni and sunni friends im sorry your the minority and we have to accept this truth)
3. Slaughter of christians , bombing of churches gets no such reaction . It is condoned.
4. The world is changing in favor of the radicals.

War is brewing. It has been for 1354 years. Its not going to stop because we want it to. It will stop because we accept war is what it is and win. We can win this if we fight the war. We just can't win if we keep trying to minimize it and stand it off. It will cost us, but it will cost more the longer we wait. The world is about to change it can change in a way that is better for all or a way that is good for muslims. How many times do they need to declare war on us before we respond in kind and wipe out those that intend harm . This middle east war has been going on since I was born and I would love to live a few years with out it. That wont happen until we actually fight it.

why would you worry about whats happening over in syria when gas hits 5bucks a gallon here your going to see some bad things happen.we started a lot of this when we invaded iraq to commit our democracy on other nations.now they all want it i say just drop in weapons food and ammo to all of them and let them fight it out.same thing with iran we fought for our freedom they can fight for thiers.chemical weapons well thats there problem its not on our soil.

You are already too weak to stand. Your Capitalist country, the seat of free-enterprise and half assed democracy, is being propped up by Communist-earned Yuans, courtesy of Communist China. I dont know how the money is distributed, but some may be trickling down to pay your President's salary and for you, the underling,to buy those hot dogs (fine-dining name: frankfurter)..

What do you get when you mix hot dogs, frankfurters and Ram? A little p***k that's full of crap

February 23, 2012 at 12:45 am |

FugginMorons

Sad but true. All our blustering about freedom and capitalism, it is China that holds all the cards.

February 23, 2012 at 11:25 am |

bobcat2u

Why the hell are they even calculating these risks ? US stay the hell out of it. This is an arab affair. Let the arab league countries commit their troops for a change. I am sure I speak for a multitude of people here when I say we are tired of using our loved ones as the sacrificial lambs. Let the arab league handle this. This is their backyard. If they do something to us directly, then we'll take their ass out.

Do you think your government cares two hoots about what you think?
All they need you for is every 2 or 4 years you ratify through the ballots (a kind of democracy) the policies and undertakings of AIPAC via the senate. WOW What a system.

Dear Ram:
Your need for recognition is annoying. You parade a slender learning on a float of insults. You are transparent.

February 23, 2012 at 12:59 am |

DoubleW

This is jolly. One of the largest chemical weapons stockpiles in the world, and our chickenhawks are howling for us to invade. Not only would Assad use these weapons on his own people if his back was to the wall, he would also use them on our troops... as well as handing them over to Hezbulla to create a diversion in Israel.

Your country wants it. Did you americans ever ask what and where is the booty from Khadafy's nuclear and chemical warfare weapons stored? Well, man I saw a documentary about 5 years ago. America. it is alleged, has 5 at least storage facilities for these dangerous things. They are all located in the mainly negro populated states, in the south. Who is at risk?, the people of Syria, India or China or the people in these southern states....mainly negro states. Get the picture. What happens if there is an accident? Mainly negroes will go to heaven. They want more of the stuff!

Ram, your ignorance is appalling The "Southern states" populated mainly by "negros"? Here we refer to them as Black or African American. They comprise less than 12 % of the population of the United States. They are AMERICANS, just as we all are. Plenty of "white" people live in the South, me included. Poke an American, ANY color, religion, gender, ethnicity & you will discover the meaning of BAD CHOICE. Remember 9-11? Did you see less grief among one group as opposed to another? NO, you did not. WE take care of our own.

February 23, 2012 at 7:12 am |

crabman2

To ram ; You may want to pay attention to gulfresident's comment . Your ignorance will get you in some serious trouble if you are foolish enough to go down South and spew your foul thoughts . All races ,colors and creeds in America , are AMERICANS . You will do well to keep this in mind , or you may end up as a ewe . Or maybe you already are .

February 23, 2012 at 8:19 am |

FugginMorons

crab, the southern states will always be Americas "lesser people"...

February 23, 2012 at 10:45 am |

Roger

Guess it's past time to bring back the DRAFT! Soon, we will need MILLIONS of troops to cover all our military incursions worldwide.

Why don't the other UN members step up too? I know we aren't the only ones with a military. If the UN wants to send a military mission into Syria then the countries voting for yes need to put in their fair share of troops if they want to initiate hostilities.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.